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Never Easy
Winnie the Pooh told his friends, “How Lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
I agree with Winnie the Pooh
Saying goodbye is never easy when you have developed such a love and concern for the people to whom you are saying good bye.
Maybe it was divinely orchestrated that the text for today is Paul’s words of farewell.
I had asked myself several times, how am I going to say an appropriate goodbye in the short time I have in the pulpit today.
Maybe it was divinely orchestrated that the text for today is Paul’s words of farewell.
STAND WITH ME AND HONOR GOD’S WORD AS WE FINISH PAUL’S LETTER TOGETHER
I had asked myself several times, how am I going to say an appropriate goodbye in the short time I have in the pulpit today.
Maybe it was divinely orchestrated that the text for today is Paul’s words of farewell.
Philippians 4
PRAYER
The Apostle Paul’s goodbyes were often powerful and well-expressed.
Paul, the pastor of pastors, gives a great ending to his letter to the Philippian church, giving thanks for their generosity and their desire to be together with him in his ministry.
He even teaches them one final and most prominent lesson.
Before I expound upon this text, let me appeal to you in the same fashion as Paul did to the Ephesians when they parted ways.
Acts
My prayer in leaving is that I have accomplished the call of God upon me in coming here.
Easy or uncomfortable, encouraging or convicting, I was called to preach God’s Word unashamedly, and I now say goodbye having done so.
Now let me share a few thoughts about Paul’s farewell to the Philippians as I try to say such a difficult goodbye.
Thank You
Paul ends the letter in the same manner as which he opened it.
He opens in by addressing the letter to the church as a group, “to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi.”
- saints being plural.
Here in v.23, however, Paul was to come a little closer in to connect his goodbye personally, “every saint” - being singular.
He wants each of them to know how thankful he is for them.
They were a blessing to him.
I feel the same way Paul does.
I know that every time I have a moment and think back about my time here at JFBC, as Paul said in , will say, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”
I of chapter 4 he called them “my beloved,” “my joy and crown.”
The first thought of thanks giving I want to gives is to say the same of you as Paul did of them in v.1 of this chapter, you are “my beloved,” you will always be “my joy and crown.”
In the beginning of the letter, Paul thanks them for their fellowship with him in the gospel.
The second thought is to say thank you for all the times and ways you joined with me in Caring for Our Community.
Many of you have been my co-laborers in Awana & VBS, in the Men’s Ministry, in Women on Mission and , in LLL and widow/er care.
People, who once weren’t, are now brothers and sisters in Christ because of your efforts here.
People who needed love and encouragement received it.
I thank you and I know they thank you.
Paul begins the ending of the letter with an “explosion of joy.”
The Philippians once given the opportunity again, sends their gift for Paul through Epaphroditus.
Paul points out that even though they often lacked opportunity, Paul was always in their minds and on their hearts - v.10 - “your care for me” — literally means “the act of thinking in behalf of me.”
In so many ways and on so many occasions I have received evidences of your care for me.
v.10 - “your concern for me” - “your care for me” — literally means “the act of thinking in behalf of me.”
In so many ways and on so many occasions I have received evidences of your care for me and I say thank you from the depths of my heart.
Getting phone calls at night because your heart was burdened for me.
Finding cards of concern and thanks on my desk
Coffee Shop Gift Cards were the bomb
Hugs and prayers at the altar with me
Phone calls at the church to say, “Hey I just want you to know I have been praying for you.”
I say thank you from the depths of my heart.
From my time here, I have learned something I know many of you have taught me and something I pray everyone of you learn or remember in the days and months ahead.
Let Jesus Be Enough
Paul reveals to us in v.11-13 his lessons in the Lord’s school of contentment.
- we all know it.
Probably all of us can quote it in our sleep, but I pray we learn the depths of its meaning.
It has nothing to do with business or sports but everything to do with Christian living.
What Paul says here in this verse is the essence of the entire letter, and our firm footing upon this verse must be upon a correct understanding.
The term “all things” is governed by the context of the section.
What is it we can do with the strength of Jesus — we can be content in living the life and serving in the ministry in which Jesus has called us to live and serve.
What God asks of us can be done because, as Paul teaches us, Jesus is our sole source of joy and He is our ultimate source of strength.
Worldly contentment is based upon self-sufficiency but can vanish in an instance when something goes wrong with self.
Christian contentment though is the belief that Jesus is enough.
He is all we need.
All we ever need is Jesus.
Worldly contentment is based upon self-sufficiency but can vanish in an instance when something goes wrong with self.
Christian contentment though is the belief that Jesus is enough.
He is all we need.
Christian Contentment is not a spiritual gift rather it is a learned trait.
It is not learned in a single simple and short lesson.
Paul had gone through many rough patches and persecutions — just read through 1 and 2 Corinthians.
As one pastor battling cancer for the second time says, “The school of contentment is no place any of us volunteers to attend.”
We learn:
Christian Contentment is unconnected to our worldly circumstances or possessions.
King Solomon says in Proverbs - “Whoever loves money is never satisfied with money” But we must have this prayer:
Proverbs 30:
Proverbs
Christian Contentment flows from the sacred union we have with Christ and our growing dependence upon Him.
Paul was so preoccupied with Jesus that nothing else mattered.
( - Paul counted all things a loss just so he could know Jesus more excellently)
It is rooted in our relationship with Him.
Shallow roots means little contentment.
Deep roots means constant contentment.
Right now I am somewhere in between closer to the shallow side with a desire to grow further down deep in Jesus.
Christian Contentment makes us flexible and usable in the Kingdom of God for the advancement of the gospel and the building up of one another in the church.
When we are content in Christ then we fulfill .
We are no longer selfish about what we want to happen in our lives or in the church.
We care more that lost people are being saved.
We care more that other church members are being taken care of than ourselves.
When we are content in Christ we stop being customers to being supporters in the mission of the church.
Let Nothing Lack in Your Worship
Paul assures them in v.18.
their gift to him was not just a donation or a supporting salary, but it was - “sweet smelling Aroma” and “an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.”
These words are reminiscent of many of the OT sacrifices, beginning with the one offered by Noah after finding dry ground.
Then connects to the system set up after the people enter the wilderness outside Promised land.
These burnt offerings in the OT, offered wilfully and faithfully, expressed obedience and submission to God, and God is well pleased in his people when they are devoted to Him instead of themselves.
as our act of worship, which is what Paul points out in v.18.
- “sweet smelling Aroma”
This truth is continued on and built upon in the NT.
as our act of worship, which is what Paul points out in v.18.
- “sweet smelling Aroma”
2 Corinthians
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